hsc.tv Shoots Network Sports, Documentary Features With its Full Line of Panasonic VariCam Cameras

From covering Grand Slam Tennis and the Masters Golf Tournament for ESPN to shooting pro-mos for TruTV, from a feature on the New York Yankees for ESPN’s SportsCenter to a music vid-eo tease for ABC’s “The View,” production company hsc.tv (New York, NY) has shot many high-profile projects with its VariCam line of cameras.

For more than two years, hsc.tv has used the VariCam 35 4K cinema and two VariCam HS high-speed 2/3” cameras on diverse, award-winning projects ranging from network sports to documen-tary features to television promos and commercials. Most recently, the production company added a VariCam LT 4K cinema camcorder to its roster of current generation VariCam products.

According to hsc.tv partner and multiple Sports Emmy award-winning cinematographer Bryan Brousseau, “Having all three VariCam models at our disposal gives us an excellent set of tools in the field—all the tools we need for the wide-ranging projects we shoot and the gamut of ‘looks’ these projects require.”

Brousseau, who still owns (and occasionally uses) first and second-generation VariCams, said his early adoption of the VariCam 35 was driven by the camera’s super 35mm sensor, its dual native ISOs of 800/5000, and the ability to shoot slo-mo and regular speed at the same time. “Given our heavy involvement in sports, it seemed logical that we could use the VariCam 35 for interviews and portraits, then switch over to the HS camera head for long lens game action,” he said. “We make pretty extensive use of the dual-recording option as well. The ability to record slo-mo and regular speed at the same time is helpful in documentary situations where sync sound is important--it’s like having an extra camera in the field.”

Brousseau noted that equipment efficiencies are also realized by having the Varicam 35 and two HS cameras share two recorders. (The VariCam 35/HS are designed so that the 4K and 2/3” cam-era heads are separate from but dockable to a common, shared recording module,)

hsc.tv purchased the VariCam LT six months ago. “I’d occasionally used a DSLR as a ‘B’ camera to the VariCam 35, but once the LT—with the same sensor and similar features—became availa-ble, it seemed like a better choice,” Brousseau said. “I know it would open up different shots for us: the LT is so light, we can put it on a Movi, I just used it on a Steadicam for a pharmaceutical spot, and it’s a perfect match with the 35.”

Brousseau said his choice of shooting formats is largely client-driven, with some preferring 4K, others Pro Res etc. When hsc.tv handles a project edit, the NLE platforms are Adobe Premiere Pro and Avid Media Composer.

About the VariCam 35
Panasonic’s VariCam 35 is an unparalleled tool for high-end filmmaking, commercials and episodic production as well as live 4K events. The camera provides superb image handling in multiple for-mats ranging from pristine 4K RAW to more practical AVC codecs for 4K, UHD, 2K, HD and HD ProRes capture. Several assets set the VariCam 35 apart from other high-end cinematography cameras, including dual native ISOs of 800 and 5000, allowing DPs to realize incredible image quality in extremely low light situations; its ability to record three simultaneous video formats (4K + 2K + Proxy, or UHD + HD + Proxy); internal AVC-Intra 4K / 2K / HD recording to 120fps; support for an ACES workflow for full fidelity mastering of original source material; and in-camera Color-Grading via CDLs / 3D LUTs.

About the VariCam LT
The VariCam LT camcorder inherits the same super 35mm sensor and superb imaging capabilities that distinguish the award-winning VariCam 35, but with significant reductions in size, weight and price. Incorporating this identical imaging “DNA” in a more compact rendition, the VariCam LT de-livers 14+ stops of dynamic range with V-Log, and the esteemed cinematic VariCam image quality and color science, as well as the VariCam 35's breakout innovation, dual native ISOs of 800/5000. Weighing just under six pounds and having superior capability to similar sized cameras, the Vari-Cam LT is the ideal camera for handheld, Steadicam, jib, crane, drone, gimbal and overall cinema verité work.

About the VariCam HS
With high-speed 1080p image capture of up to 240fps, the 2/3” VariCam HS produces extraordi-nary high-definition imagery for the most demanding documentary, sports or SFX slow-motion ap-plications. The VariCam HS utilizes three newly developed, 1920 x 1080p MOS imagers with 14 stops of latitude, providing full control over a wide range of lighting conditions for unparalleled 1080p native recording/operation.

For more information about Panasonic VariCam cinema and high-speed cameras, visit us.panasonic.com/varicam, or contact Panasonic at 877-803-8492.

About Panasonic Broadcast, Cinema and Professional Video Systems
Panasonic offers leading products to acquire, transmit and view high-quality video, over both video and IP networks. Professional products include VariCam cinema cameras, P2 HD camcorders, 4K and HD handheld cameras, Pan/Tilt/Zoom cameras, studio and box cameras, switchers and moni-tors. These products serve customers in cinema, broadcast, professional sports, higher education, enterprise and other markets.

About Panasonic Corporation of North America
Newark, NJ-based Panasonic Corporation of North America is a leading technology partner and in-tegrator to businesses, government agencies and consumers across the region. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Corporation and the hub of Panasonic’s U.S. branding, marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. Panasonic was featured in Fortune Magazine’s 2016 ranking of 50 companies that are changing the world and do-ing well by doing good. Specifically cited were its smart and sustainable technologies, including its contributions to smart cities and the electric vehicle revolution.